Food Notes: Sports-friendly Flying Pie returns to Broadway Avenue

Some folks may remember when Flying Pie Pizzaria had a restaurant on Broadway Avenue where Pie Hole pizzeria is now situated.

That was last century.

Well, the locally owned and operated pizza joint is coming back to this stretch of town Feb. 23 when it debuts its fourth Treasure Valley location in the former Buster’s Sports Bar spot at 1326 Broadway Ave. near Boise State University.

The new Flying Pie will have more of a sports theme than the other three restaurants due its close proximity to BSU and Dona Larsen Park.

The popular eatery and gathering place is known for its pizzas with fun names such as the Zambini (pesto, jalapeno and Italian sausage) and No Vegy Pieway, a meat lover’s pizza with nary a vegetable on it.

The other three Flying Pies are at 6508 W. Fairview Ave. and 4320 W. State St., Boise, and 601 S. Main St., Meridian.

On Feb. 21, Flying Pie on Broadway is hosting a fundraiser that benefits Life’s Kitchen. The event, from 6 to 9 p.m., will serve as a soft opening. Only the 8 p.m. time slot is available. Here’s how it works: Find the link at www.lifeskitchen.org and reserve the time slot to come in and try endless pizza samples and two Sockeye brews per person. A minimum donation of $10 is requested.

Online: flyingpie.com

Eureka! is coming to town

Eureka!, a California-based chain of upscale burger joints, recently announced plans to open a restaurant later this year in Boise’s Mode Building on the 8th Street corridor.

Housed in the former Aspen Leaf Frozen Yogurt spot at 800 W. Idaho St., Eureka! will give diners another option Downtown for grabbing a burger and a craft beer.

The chain specializes in gourmet burgers and hand-cut fries, in addition to a large selection of handcrafted draft brews and small-batch whiskeys.

Don’t be surprised to find a Pearl Street Blues Burger (blue cheese, grilled onions and sautéed wild mushrooms), a Napa Burger and a Bone Marrow Burger made with bone marrow porcini butter and mustard aioli.

Besides burgers, Eureka! also offers beer-friendly appetizers, soups, large salads and assorted tacos. Starters include osso buco riblets, lollipop corn dogs, bruschetta, truffle cheese fries and grilled shishito peppers sprinkled with tiny pearls of tobiko fish roe.

Eureka!, founded in 2009, has around 20 restaurants, most of which are in California. The company recently branched out into Texas and the Seattle area.

Online: eurekarestaurantgroup.com

Coffeehouse opens in Hyde Park

Hyde Perk Coffee House recently opened along the main drag in Hyde Park. Housed in the former Hyde Park Books spot at 1507 N. 13th St., the coffeehouse still flashes reminders of the old bookstore thanks to the yellow-trimmed exterior and reused book shelves that now adorn the walls.

Hyde Perk employs an Italian-made La Marzocco espresso machine to turn out a bevy of cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, macchiatos and more — using beans from Waverly’s coffee roaster in Spokane.

The coffee house also offers a variety of locally made, freshly baked goodies, including hand-pies, scones, cookies and even gluten-free offerings.

Hyde Perk Coffee House is open 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Online: facebook.com/hyde-perk-coffee-house

Meriwether Cider opens

Meriwether Cider Co. is having its grand opening Feb. 20 from 2 to 10 p.m.

The cidery, located in the former Crooked Fence Brewing spot at 5242 W. Chinden Blvd., has been producing hard ciders for about a year, but the new space will allow the business to increase its output and give people a place to enjoy handcrafted ciders in the renovated taproom.

The cidery puts out several varieties of hard cider, including Cranberry Crosscut, Blackberry Boom, Ginger Root, Strong Arm Semi-Sweet and a champagne-like Foothills Semi-Dry, offered in 22-ounce bottles and on draft.

The coming-out party will include live music from Curtis Sutton and the Scavengers and inventive food truck grub from B-Town Bistro.

Online: meriwethercider.com

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Food Notes: Sports-friendly Flying Pie returns to Broadway Avenue."